Insulated pipe



A. A. DURANT INSULATED Pmi April 23, 1929.

' Filed July 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- ALBERT A. Domain, or HONOLULU, zrnnm ronY oF'nAwAII.

INSULATED PIPE.

Application filed July 12,

This invention relates to insulated pipes and methods of applying suchinsulations, and

- more particularly to means for and methods of insulating pipes to belaid under ground,

and carrying hot or cold liquids or ases to the point where thecommodlty is to e used. In the conveyance of hot steam or hqulds throughsuch a conduit the temperature of the contained commodity of coursegreatly exceeds the temperature of the earth surrounding the conduit; orthe latter may be ut 1l1z ed to convey cool brine, ammonia or otherliqulds which are at a temperature lowerthan that of the surroundingearth. In either of the foregoing cases, to prevent the transfer of heatbetween the ipe containing the commodity, and the cart surrounding thelatter, the pipe should be covered with an insulation which is of acharacter adapted to not'only minimize such heat transfenbut to alsoprevent contact of air with the pipe, thereby eliminating water ofcondensation, and consequent damage to the pipe insulation.

The object of the present lnvention is to provide a ipe covering forconduits of the character escribed, which will not only reduce heattransference to a minimum, but Wlll also prevent access of air to thebody of the pipe, thereby preventing the formation of Water ofcondensation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means which assuresthat, after the 7 application of the insulating coverin', the- I on theline 44 of Fig.3.

-' r Fig. 5 is a similar'section on the line 55 ofpipe will be locatedin a line rming t e exact central line of the insulated conduit. 7

Other objects of the invention will be made apparent in the followingspecification, when taken in connecti n with the drawings forming a partthereo in which like reference'numerals indicate like parts throughoutthe several views.

In said drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a ipe section'covered by myinsulation.

ig. 2 is a perspective view showing a section of a pipe partiallyinsulated, preparatory to the final insulating step. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of portions of two sections of pipe com letely insulated,except at the meeting ends 0 the pipe.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the pipe. taken Fi 3. v

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an end of a pipe,1l

'1927. Serial No. 205,276;

showing the means for sealing the end while the insulation is beingapplied around the pi e. ig. 7 is atop plan view showing two sections ofthe pipe coupled at an angle.

Fig.8 is a perspectlve view of a closure for the end of a section of theconduit.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the clip used for suppbrting thepipe section againstlateral and downward movement,-and,

Fig. 10 is'aperspective view showing the detent for limiting upwardmovement ofthe pipe section.

Now referring specifically to the dnawings,

'1 indicates a section of the pipe (tio beused as the conduit forconveying the liqui s or gases, to a remote point. For. purposes of thepipe 1 is buried under the in insulated, to ensure the advantages heretoore specified.

convenience It is of course understood that the pipe 1 is formed insectionsof certain lengths, theend of each section being pr vided withscrew threads to receive an threaded collar or connectdr 2. In theproc-' ess'of treating the pipe sections 1, each section ground, afterbeinteriorly scre'wso I vas tubes 4, if, formed of comminuted cork,

or may be impregnated with some adhesive which inherently retains thematerial 3 in po-' sition until the next step of the insulating process.It is understood that the numeral 4 indicates the means fortemporarilyretaining the material 3 in position.

After preparation ofseveral of the pipe sections as above explained, acylindrical sleeve or mold 5 is slipped over the pipe and insulation, asshown. best in Figs. 1 and 2.

It is to be understood that the inner diameter of the mold 5 isconsiderabl greater than the outerdiameter of the insu ating material 3,as illustrated'in Figs. 4 and 5. Each mold 5 is preferably formed ofoxidized, sheet metal, and is provided on its top surface with anelongated opening 6, defined by two upstanding flanges 7, 7. A step inthe method I v of insulation of the pipe 1 consists in covering thelatter, and the insulation 3, with a fluent and self-hardening materialsuch as asphalt,

and it is therefore important that the pipe 1 be so positioned in themold5, that the central longitudinal'axis of each are practically,

' may easily be so proportioned, with respect to pipes 1 and molds 5 ofknown diameter, that, when the hooked ends of the clips are engaged onthe flanges 7 the longitudinal axis of the pipe 1 will theoreticallycoincide with that of the mold 5.

With the pipe and mold assembled as above explained, the two open endsof the mold 5 are temporarily sealed to prevent egress from the mold ofthe soft asphalt during the pouring operation. In sealing the ends ofthe mold 5, I utilize caps 9, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, provided witha'central aperture 10, adapted to slip over the pipe 1, a washer 11 alsopassing over the pipe and contacting the cap 9, the coupling member 2then being screwed onto the end of the pipe 1 and rotated to press thewasher against the cap 9, and the latter into close contact with the endperiphery of the mold 5. With the elements arranged as above explainedthe heated asphalt 12 is poured into the opening 6, obviously completelyenclosing the material 3 with a layer of asphalt, all points of theouter periphery of the asphalt being substantially equidistant from theouter surface of the pipe 1, and a layer of insulating material lyingtherebetween.

' After the sections are filled with the asphalt 12 and the latter hasbecome set, the caps 9 are removed, and the projecting ends of a pipe 1are connected to the end of the pipe I forming the next section, asillustrated in Fig. Before the connected pipe sections are in thetrench, the adjoining ends of the pipes are similarly covered with thematerial 7 3, which material is in turn similarly treated with asphalt,as described.

Fig. 7 illustrates an angle in the conduit structure, which may betreated in the same manner by the utilization of a slightly differentshape of mold 5, as will be understood.

The clips 8 are formed of non-corrosive material, since they are to beleft embedded in the asphalt, and any deterioration thereof mightoperate to adm1t air into the space between the asphalt and the material3, thereb defeating the intent of the exclusion of al air from access tothe pipe 1.

After the asphalt has been poured the i flan es 7, 7 may be turneddownwardly to the 1 line position shown in Fig. 5, if de- 7 sired.

From foregoing it will be apparent that I have produced a pipe conduitwhich effectually prevents access of air to the pipe car-' sections ofthe pipe may be insulated at the factory and transported withoutinjuryto the point of use, or the insulating work may be as easily carried outat the trench in which the pipe is to be laid. The sheet metal mold orjacket 5 is preferably ofnon-corrosive material, but it may be made ofcheaper material if desired, since, even though it be de stroyed bycorrosion after installation, the asphalt will retain its position andcontinue to function as an air seal. Furthermore, on account of theflexibility of the asphalt, no special supports are necessary in theunderground work, since ordinary settlements of the ground will notcrack the asphalt nor otherwise injure it.

From the foregoing it will be evident that I have provided a pipecovering, and a method of installing the same which effectively exeludes outside air from contact with the pipe, and which may be veryeasily applied thereto, either at the factory or at the trench where thepipe is to be laid.

in certain cases, when sections of relatively small pipes are beingtreated as herein described, the section has a tendency to iioat on topof the fluent asphalt and to move out of contact with the clips 8, and,in such position,

said sections would obviously be in non-centered position with respectto the asphalt when the latter is properly set, To avoid this difficultyI provide detents 13, in the form of relatively small members of sheetmetal, having a bifurcated hooked upper end i l, adapted to embrace theedge of the shell section 5. The lower end of the detent 13 is providedwith a presser foot 15, and extends downwardly within the shell to apoint such that the pipe section will engage said foot 15 and preventthe rise of said section above the point of centralization with respectto the fluent asphalt. The detents 13 are provided in different sizesdependent upon the size and weight of the pipe section being treated.

I have herein referred to the insulation of pipes to be used inunderground work. It is clearlyobvious however that the pipes so treatedare equally efficacious when used above the ground.

Modifications of the herein described structure will be suggested tothose skilled in the art, but my invention covers all embodimentsfalling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. insulating covering for conduit pipes comprlsing a layer of porousmaterial surrounding the pipe, a jacket surrounding said material, meanscontacting said material and connected to said jacket, whereby toposition and retain the latter concentrically of the pipe, and a layerof asphalt between said material and said jacket.

2. An insulating covering for conduit pipes comprising a layer of porousmaterial surrounding the pipe, a metallic jacket s'ur-' rounding saldmaterial and spaced therefrom,

- a member embracing the said material and 1n the top of the jacket .adated to receive adapted to receive uent asphalt, means secured to saidjacket for positioning the pi e therein 'along the longitudinal axis oftie what, and means for sealing the ends of the acket against egress ofthe asphalt duringthe pourmg operation.- a v I p 4. An insulatingcovering for conduit pipes comprising a pipe-enclosing jacket of eaterdiameter than the pipe, an. opening fluent asphalt, means secure to thejacket scribed. r

It In testimony whereof I aflix adapted to prevent lateral anddownwardmovement of the pipe, whilesaid asphalt is being poured intothe'jacket, and means for preventing upward movement of said pipe.

5, An insulating covering for conduit pipes" comprising a pipe-enclosingjacket adapted to concentrically receive the pipe and having an asphaltreceiving opening 1n its top wall, the wall of the jacket being cutto'pro--:

vide flanges, and a strap member secured to.

said flanges and embracing said pipe and supporting itcentrally of saidjacket.

6 An insulating covering for onduit pipes comprising a pipe-enclosing.vjacket adapted to concentrically receive the pipe and having an asphaltreceiving opening in its top wall, the wall of the jacket being cut to-I provide flanges, a strap member secured to said flanges and embracingsaidpipe and supporting 1t centrall of 'said jacket, and a presser-footsecure to the wall of said jacket and extending downwardly for contactwith the top of said pi e,-whe'rebyto prevent upward movement t ereof,substantial ly as dey i. si lature; iiim'i ur.

- ALBERT A.

